Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-01
The State Fair VS.. the 3Iechanics'


We were much pleased to learn that the
| California State Agricultural Society gave
up dallying with the Mechanics Fair, and
paws no attention to the exacting demands
of the San Francisco institution. The re-
| iterated statements that a compromise was
desired did not mislead, as it is well known
| that some of the prominent men in the
Mechanics have expressed an intention to
| cripple the State Fair so that theirs would
take the lead. They even went so far as
| TO propose holding stock show during the
| weeks of the State Fair, and make every
endeavor to secure entries Had that
| threat beelt carried out, the result would
| have been disastrous to the Mechanics
| Fair, as, do what they could, there are few
| stock-breeders who would fall into trap
| the bait of which might be labeled plan
| to injure the farming and breeding
| interests of California.
The State Fair is public institution
| organized and supported for the good of all
| The other is money-making scheme
whereby few men can profit. The best
| evidence of that was the resembling of q
| resolution forbidding the leasing of the
| Pavilion for slogging matches and masque-
| rades. A society which will pander to the
baser passions, which will indorse bru-
| tality and coquet with vice, cares little fol
| the welfare of the farmers of the State
Could it induce them by specious promises
| to join in its raree show and turn the crank
which grinds out extra dollars, little heed
would be given to sacrifice of important
interests. What will be gained by Gripping
| the State Fair? A certain loss of hundreds
of thousands of dollars annually to the
people of this coast What will be gained
by farmers building up rival? So little
| in comparison that the reward will not be
one per cent of the cost.
The residents of San Francisco do not
gain benefits at all commensurate with the
losses of others. In fact management
which did not conflict with the Agrieultu-
raj Society would be better for urban in
terests. Were the Mechanics Fair not
opened until the close of the Sacramento
exhibition, we cannot see any great draw
back, though many advantages.
The early part of September is certainly
| not as favorable for a fruit exhibition as
| later in that month, or early in October
The county exhibits would be more COM
plete, and after showing at Sacramento adj.
dltions could be made and a still better dis
play at the metropolis. AS it now stands
| the farmer who neglects to add to the pro.
| auctions of his county at the State Fair
and fritters away his offerings at the other
| will stand in his own light. He cannot
| afford to stay away from one; he has still
less Justification in helping to sustain the
| other. Had the scheme been carried
| through OF having a stock show and races
at the same time as the State Fair, not O
department would show anything but q
| beggarly number, not race that would
| have filed. We trust that farmers anG
| fruit-growers will feel the same interest iu
| checkmating the NJ. F. as breeders and
owners. Arrogance must be met with
other weapons than Cancellation and arbi.
trary despotism lead TO something else than
humiliation. We feel proud of the action
| of the managers of the State Society, and
| that their resolution will meet the warm
approval of nearly all the rural population
is beyond question.
[Since the above was published the Di
rectors of the Mechanics Fair have openly
endeayored to hold an opposition stock
show, and also to have races, and if they
do not do so it will be because Of failure Of
effort.-EDs. RECORD UNIesl